India Condemns Attack on Thai Vessel in Strait of Hormuz

Thai-Flagged Cargo Ship Attacked Near Strait of Hormuz; Three Crew Members Missing​

Vessel En Route to Gujarat’s Kandla Port Hit by Projectiles​

A Thai-flagged cargo ship was attacked near the Strait of Hormuz on March 11 while sailing from Dubai to Kandla Port in Gujarat, leaving three crew members missing. The vessel, Mayuree Naree, was struck near its stern by two projectiles of unknown origin.

The bulk carrier is owned by Thai company Precious Shipping Pcl and had 23 crew members on board at the time of the incident. Following the strike, a fire broke out in the engine room of the ship but was later brought under control.

Rescue Operation Underway; 20 Sailors Saved​

According to the Royal Thai Navy, 20 sailors have been rescued so far, while three crew members remain unaccounted for. The rescue operation was carried out by the Omani Navy, which continues to search the surrounding waters for the missing personnel.

Images released by the Royal Thai Navy showed thick black smoke rising from the vessel’s hull and superstructure, with life rafts floating nearby in the sea. Authorities said the exact details and cause of the attack are still under investigation.

The Mayuree Naree Bangkok is a bulk carrier measuring around 178 metres in length with a displacement of approximately 30,000 tonnes.

Attack Occurred While Transiting Key Global Shipping Route​

The vessel had departed from Khalifa Port in the United Arab Emirates and came under attack while passing through the Strait of Hormuz.

India’s Ministry of External Affairs said it had taken note of the reports about the attack and strongly condemned the targeting of commercial shipping.

“India deplores the fact that commercial shipping is being made a target of military attacks in the ongoing conflict in West Asia. Precious lives, including of Indian citizens, have already been lost in multiple such attacks in the earlier phase of this conflict and the intensity and lethality of the attacks only seems to be increasing,” the ministry said in a statement.

The ministry added that commercial shipping should not be targeted and emphasized the need to maintain freedom of navigation and commerce.

Strait of Hormuz Remains Critical for Global Energy Trade​

The Strait of Hormuz, located between the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman, is one of the world’s most important maritime chokepoints. A significant share of global oil and gas shipments passes through this route.

India relies heavily on shipping routes through the Gulf for crude oil imports. Government data shows that around 778 Indian seafarers are currently aboard 28 Indian-flagged vessels operating in the Persian Gulf region.

The strait has effectively remained closed since the beginning of the month following attacks by the United States and Israel on Iran, which led to retaliatory actions by Tehran across the region. Only a limited number of vessels are believed to have attempted the crossing during this period.

Nearly one-fifth of the world’s oil and gas supplies transit through the Strait of Hormuz. Earlier this week, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps stated that it would not allow even “one litre of oil” to leave the region if the attacks by the United States and Israel continued.